
Abel Ferrara (Italian: [ferˈraːra]; born July 19, 1951) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for the provocative and often controversial content in his movies and his use and redefinition of neo-noir imagery. A long-time independent filmmaker, some of his best known movies include the New York-set, gritty crime thrillers The Driller Killer (1979), Ms .45 (1981), King of New York (1990), Bad Lieutenant (1992), and The Funeral (1996), chronicling violent crime in urban settings with spiritual overtones. Ferrara also worked in a wide array of genres, including the sci-fi remake Body Snatchers (1993), cyberpunk thriller New Rose Hotel (1998), the religious drama Mary (2005), the black comedy Go Go Tales (2007), and the biopic Pasolini (2014), as well as in several documentary filmmaking projects.
2025Marty SupremeMovieas Ezra Mishkin
2025Judas' GospelMovieas King Herodes
2024The Passion According to BéatriceMovieas Self
2024Turn in the WoundMovieDirector
2023The Sweet EastMovieThanks
2022Padre PioMovieDirector · Writer
2022Soldato sotto la lunaMovieas Anicio
2022Buon LavoroMovie
2021Zeros and OnesMovieDirector · Screenplay
2021The Night BurnsMovieas Abel
2021BleedingsMovie
2020Sportin' LifeMovieas Self · Director
2020SiberiaMovieScreenplay · Director
2020TommasoMovieDirector · Screenplay
2019The AppMovie
2019The ProjectionistMovieas Self · Director
2018Alive in FranceMovieas Self · Director · Original Music Composer
2018Talking with the VampiresMovieDirector
2018A Talent For TroubleMovieas Self
2018WiaraMovieas Self
2017Plankton SalesmenMovieas Self (archive footage)
2017Piazza VittorioMovieas Himself · Director
2017Black ButterflyMovieas Pat
2017Water and Sugar – Carlo Di Palma: The Colours of LifeMovieas Self
2017Ultima ChiamataMovie
2016SculptMovie
2015Searching for Padre PioMovieDirector
2014PasoliniMovieDirector · Idea
2014Welcome to New YorkMovieDirector · Writer
2014Don PeyoteMovieas Taxi Cab Driver · as Manhattan Cab Driver
2013Anthony Bourdain: Parts UnknownTV showas Self · 1 episodes
2013Balkan SpiritMovieas Self - Director
2012Home Sweet HomeMovie
20124:44 Last Day on EarthMovieWriter · Director
2012Abel Ferrara in LuccaMovie
2011Happy LifeMovieExecutive Producer
201042 One Dream RushMovieDirector
2010Mulberry St.Movieas Self · Director
2010Uncle BobMovieas Self
2010Daddy LonglegsMovieas Robber
2010Napoli, Napoli, NapoliMovieDirector · Writer
2009BandagedMovieProducer
2008Go Go TalesMovieDirector · Screenplay
2008Chelsea on the RocksMovieas Self · Director · Writer
2007Cannes: All AccessMovieas Self
2007Never DownMovieThanks
2006ExesMovieas Caïn
2006Mylène Farmer : Music Videos IVMovieDirector
2005MaryMovieDirector · Story
2005Odyssey in RomeMovie
2004Nice to Meet You, Please Don't Love Me!Movieas Himself
2003Abel Ferrara: Not GuiltyMovieas Self
2002White BoyMovieProducer
2001'R XmasMovieDirector · Screenplay
2001Mylene Farmer: Music Videos II & IIIMovieDirector
1999New Rose HotelMovieDirector · Screenplay
1998Abel/AsiaMovieas Self
1997Subway StoriesMovieDirector
1997The BlackoutMovieDirector · Screenplay · Songs
1996The FuneralMovieDirector
1995The AddictionMovieDirector
1995At SundanceMovieas Self
1993Dangerous GameMovieDirector
1993Body SnatchersMovieDirector
1992Bad LieutenantMovieDirector · Screenplay
1990King of New YorkMovieDirector
1989Cat ChaserMovieDirector
1987China GirlMovieDirector
1986Crime StoryTV showDirector · 2 episodes
1986Crime Story: PilotMovieDirector
1986The GladiatorMovieDirector
1984Miami ViceTV showDirector · 2 episodes
1984Fear CityMovieDirector
1981Ms .45Movieas First Rapist (as Jimmy Laine) · Director
1979The Driller KillerMovieas Reno Miller (as Jimmy Laine) · Director · Editor · Songs
1973Could This Be LoveMovieWriter · Director
1972The Hold UpMovieDirector · Writer
1971Nicky's FilmMovieas Man in junkyard · Director · Cinematography
—Betrayal and Retribution - The Spawn of the Last House on the LeftMovieas Self
—American NailsMovieWriter · Director